Robert Miles, creator of dance music classic Children, has died aged 47

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DJ Robert Miles, who created one of the most recognisable songs of the Nineties in club classic Children, has died aged 47.

The Italian music producer, who was born Robert Concina, was reported dead by DJ Mag Italia, who said that he had died from an unspecified illness in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

His friend, Joe T Vannelli, said in a statement: "The tragic news of the death of a very talented artist of our time, makes me incredulous and upset. I will miss the fights, brawls, criticism, judgements but especially your talent in finding sounds and melodies unparalleled."

The instantly recognisable Children was released in 1995, first with little impact in Italy, then, months later, in the clubs of Miami. When British trance artist Simon Berry released it as the lead single from his album Dreamland in November 1995, Children became an international sensation, topping charts in 12 countries and spending 17 weeks in the UK Top 40.

The song had more cerebral beginnings than those who have danced to it may imagine. Miles was moved to create the track after seeing photographs of children who had been victims of the war in the former Yugoslavia, brought home by his father on a humanitarian mission.

There was also a practical element to Miles's composition: in the early Nineties there was a spate of car crashes in Italy after ravers fell asleep at the wheel, often under the influence of drugs, alcohol and club-induced weariness. Known as strage del sabato sera, or Saturday night slaughter, DJs started to play slower music towards the end of the night to calm attendees down. Children, a pioneering dream house track, was one of the most pivotal for this purpose.

Members of the dance and electronic music community have been sharing their thoughts and tributes to Miles on social media.